Hop! Channel facts for kids
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| Country | Israel |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Hebrew |
| Picture format | 576i SDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Zebra TV Channels Ltd. |
| Sister channels | Hop! Israeli Childhood Luli TV (HOT) WIZ! (Yes) Boom Hop! (Romania, formerly) |
| History | |
| Launched | February 2000 |
Hop! Channel (in Hebrew: ערוץ הופ!, pronounced Arutz Hop!) is a special television channel from Israel. It is made just for very young children, usually from birth up to seven years old. The channel shows fun and educational programs designed to help these young viewers learn and grow.
Hop! Channel started broadcasting in Israel in February 2000. It is available daily for many hours, from 5:00 AM until 11:00 PM. You can watch it if you have a subscription to cable TV services like HOT or satellite TV services like yes in Israel.
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About Hop! Channel
Hop! Channel focuses entirely on preschool children. This means its shows are perfect for kids aged zero to seven. The channel's goal is to provide a safe and enriching viewing experience. It helps young children develop important skills while having fun.
What Makes Hop! Special?
Unlike some other children's channels, Hop! was one of the first in the world made specifically for preschoolers. Other channels, like Arutz HaYeladim in Israel, often target older kids, usually between seven and fourteen. Hop! makes sure its content is always right for its very young audience.
The channel's main message, or slogan, is "Hop! To grow up in good hands." This slogan highlights its commitment to nurturing young minds. A famous Israeli singer, Ariel Zilber, sang the original main song for the channel. Later, the channel's own presenters performed it.
Daily Broadcast Schedule
When Hop! Channel first launched in February 2000, it broadcast for 15 hours each day. Its schedule was from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Over time, the channel extended its broadcast hours. Today, it airs for 18 hours daily, from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM, according to Tel-Aviv, Israel time.
Channel History and Development
Hop! Channel was created in February 2000 by Alona Abt and Tamir Paul in Israel. They wanted to create a dedicated space for the youngest viewers. The channel quickly became a popular choice for families with small children.
Iconic Characters and Branding
The official logo for Hop! Channel is a colorful kite. It features red, yellow, green, and blue colors. This kite is a friendly symbol for the channel.
Between shows, you might see short animated clips called "idents." These idents feature various friendly characters. Some of these characters include a bird, a mouse, a puppy, and a cat. In the past, there were also characters like a fly, a spider, a clock, and a penguin. Another memorable character was a purple spacecraft named "Tralalit."
Creating Local Shows
Hop! Channel has also produced its own original content. In 2002, the channel partnered with Sesame Workshop, the creators of the famous Sesame Street series. This partnership allowed Hop! to create an Israeli version of the show.
The Israeli adaptation was called "Rechov Sumsum" (in Hebrew: רחוב סומסום). Hop! Channel produced this series from 2006 until 2016. They created four full seasons of Rechov Sumsum. They also made a spin-off series called Hop! I Know (הופ! אני יודע), which further expanded their educational offerings.
International Reach
Hop! Channel's success even led to an international version. In 2006, a channel called Boom Hop! was launched in Romania. This was a local version of the Israeli channel, broadcast in Romanian. It was available on Boom TV. However, Boom Hop! in Romania stopped broadcasting in 2012.
Popular Programs on Hop!
Hop! Channel features a variety of engaging programs for its young audience. These shows come from both local productions and international series. Some of the popular shows that have aired on the channel include Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City and S.M.A.S.H!. These programs are chosen to be both entertaining and educational for preschoolers.
